§ Viscount HELMSLEYasked whether the offices of Accountant and Comptroller-General and of Comptroller of Stamps and Stores in the Inland Revenue Department. are vacant; on what dates these vacancies occurred; by whom have the duties of these offices been discharged since the occurrence of these vacancies; whether those discharging the duties are in receipt of the salaries for these offices in addition to their own salaries; and what is the amount of these salaries?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)The office of Controller of Stamps and Stores was merged into that, of Secretary for Stamps in 1909. One of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue is, temporarily performing the functions of Accountant and Comptroller-General without increase of salary. Details as to salaries are duly set out in the Estimates for the Revenue Departments.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYDo I understand that these offices have been merged into, other offices, and that, therefore, economies have been effected, or are they still open?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEWhat has happened is that under the Finance Act of 1909–10 a great deal of new work was thrown on the Department in connection with stamps, and a new experiment was made by which one of the new secretaries undertook the work of the Comptroller of Stamps. I do not think the experiment has been altogether a success.